Nine reveals lineup for Top Gear Australia
Nine has announced the presenter lineup for a local edition of Top Gear – confounding industry speculation that the network would not make a local version but instead rely on a series of Australian specials featuring the British hosts.
Kenny star Shane Jacobson, Top Gear magazine editor-in-chief Ewen Page and racing driver Steven Pizzati will front the show.
Pizzati is the only survivor of the SBS lineup of Top Gear Australia.
The first series, broadcast in 2008, saw Pizzati host with Warren Brown and Charlie Cox.
The second series saw Cox replaced by trumpeter James Morrison.
The first series of eight episodes debuted for SBS with just over 900,00 viewers before settling at around 650,000. the second series – also eight episodes – gradually declined to below 500,000 viewers.
Nine outbid SBS for Top Gear in October last year. The deal included both the free-to-air rights for the British edition of Top Gear and a local edition.
Because of the expense involved, rumours had been growing within the industry in recent weeks that Nine would rely on putting the British presenters such as Jeremy Clarkson in cars with contracted network talent such as Shane Warne and do a small number of Australian specials rather than a full series.
But local production begins today “in a secret location”.
Michael Healy, Nine’s director of programming, said: “We look forward to welcoming the Top Gear Australia crew to the network. Shane, Ewen and Steve as hosts will provide the passion, humour and skill to bring a real Australian feel to the Top Gear phenomenon.”
Top Gear is being produced by Freehand for the Nine Network and BBC Worldwide.
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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10 million dollars says it will be worse than shite.
They can’t even show the original one properly when it’s already made for them.
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I’ll reserve judgment, but don’t hold out much hope….
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Bummer… had hoped to see Shane Warne’s presenting debut.
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This will last as long the Australian ‘Queer eye for the straight guy’ did.
Nine have failed to make anything decent in the last few years. My general rule is if it’s new and on Nine, I won’t watch it, if it’s on Seven, I’ll give it a go.
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SBS supported Top Gear while the audience grew from zero to biggest program on the planet.
I’ll watch your show Cannel 9, but I’ll be fast forwarding the ads.
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Sorry, just spotted the typo – Channel 9.
My fingers were shaking with contempt.
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My general rule – If its “new” it is not on Nine. A re-hash of a bad-copy of a UK production is not new.
Maintaining cynicism until eps are aired.
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I wonder in Channel 9 has figured out that the audience for Top Gear UK (middle-class, non-car enthusiasts) does not really translate into ‘Aussie car enthusiast’ for a local show?
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Seeing lots of “glass half empty” comments here. Bloody knockers!
Nobody has seen the show yet and already you’re whingeing.
People make too many comparisons with the UK version and don’t accept a product on it’s own merits. The unique Aussie-ness of the cast of first two local versions is what distinguished it from the Brit pap.
Bring it on I say. Anything is better than that overblown, pompous, Cleese wannabe buffoon Clarkson.
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@Robbie “Bring it on I say. Anything is better than that overblown, pompous, Cleese wannabe buffoon Clarkson.”
Err, which version of the show was getting the most viewers?
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I can’t believe they have retained Pizzati who was by far the worst presenter in the SBS attempt at Top Gear. Warren Brown was the only guy who had the “right stuff”. Given Channel Nine insists on claiming they are showing new episodes when in fact most are repeats that have already been shown on SBS, I am sure Top Gear Australia will be a failure.
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Hm considering the networks adoration of Charlie sheen I would have thought they’d get him to host it….
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It’s actually quite a good choice for the lead host. Why on earth do they hang on to Pizzatti. He is hopeless. The live show didn’t even use him on the last tour. Doesn’t matter how good the lead guy is, with Pizzatti there the show just won’t get off the ground.
Any way the commercial networks have totally bastardised the series. You can never know if you’re going to be watching fesh material or something you’ve seen 6 times already.
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Agree that Brown was the best thing on the SBS version. That really shows how poor it was – when their James May-type ended up being the most charismatic cast member. Jacobson might actually work because he’s got a bit of wit and a nice turn of (Aussie) phrase.
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Why do they bother? The Aussie series just does nothing for me. Never been a patch on the UK show, and why are they keeping Pizzatti? He reminds me of an annoying yappy little dog, and while he is there I won’t bother giving it another go.
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The (UK) show succeeds primarily due to the chemistry between the 3 hosts – not the formula or the challenges or the celebrities or the cars. Lose them, and you’re not left with much.
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It’s a shame they didn’t put Daryl in, Hey hey it’s Top Gear would have finished off the format once and for all.
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Let’s see how long it takes for TGA’s celeb driver spot to become a total 9/ACP whorefest plus Gawd-awful tie-ins to The Footy Show and anything else they can think off.
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WARREN BROWN WAS THE BEST OF THE SBS GROUP!!!
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channel nine, don’t bother you will only bugger it
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i think the last series was perhpas tops my most forgettable tv productions ever, it was horrible and cringeworthy in every sense………..I think the difficulty lies in that they are attempting to recreate a UK institutuion without actually putting in the ground work………………….the only reason the ridiculous stunts work ( and they are getting terribly lame at times) with the UK version is that the program and the presenters have a solid, well established motoring history.
They can play the buffoons but they also have the moxy and history to back it up…………..build a platform boys dont try and emulate
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P!ss off Pizzati, I think I’d rather watch Fred Nile.
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Is that Gary Hardwick doubling as Andy “family guy” in the road test?
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Steve Pizzati was okay not great but he did have some funny moments last season. But I guess the show needed someone who could drive a car very well and he can do that.
Shane Jacobson will be fantastic IMO. The series just needs someone funny and he if he can bring alittle bit of Kenny with him it will be a plus for the series
It might be a risk but hopefully these 3 presneters can mix and create a decent TV show
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Australian top gear sucks. From the first episode it sucked and the ratings reflect this. Sometimes u can’t replicate the original and doing so it just a cheap rip off aimed at getting some of the money/theft of the glory. let it die.
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